White Flowering Dogwood-- World&#39;s Fair variety

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of white Flowering Dogwood, botanically known as Cornus florida is provided. The new variety most nearly resembles the native Flowering Dogwood, but primarily is distinguished therefrom by a compact and upright growth habit, stocky trunk and strong stubby limbs of relatively large diameter, and the abundant formation of attractive white blossoms which often are present in closely disposed clusters. The new variety was named in honor of the World Energy Fair to be held at Knoxville, Tenn. during 1982.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct variety of white Flowering Dogwood tree wasdiscovered in the fall of 1974 while growing near Highway No. 55 withina block of approximately 100,000 Cornus florida trees on the cultivatednursery property of the assignee located six miles from McMinnville,Tenn. The seed which yielded the block of Cornus florida was obtainedfrom native white Flowering Dogwood trees and had been planted duringthe fall of 1973. Accordingly, the new variety is believed to be achance seedling or mutation of unknown parentage which differs from allprior known dogwood tree varieties of which I am aware.

At the time of my discovery my attention was attracted to a single treein the seedling block which was significantly different in appearancefrom all other trees in the block. This tree also was different than allother dogwood trees I have observed during the past twenty-five years.Steps were taken by me carefully to preserve and to continue to observethe new variety following its discovery.

The new variety has been found to possess the following novelcombination of characteristics:

(1) a compact and upright growth habit,

(2) stocky trunk,

(3) strong limbs of relatively large diameter,

(4) the display of attractive white blossoms often in relatively closelydisposed clusters,

(5) the display of more white blossoms than the Cloud 9 variety (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 2,112) and the Imperial White variety (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 4,242),

(6) the display of white blossoms which are slightly smaller than thoseof the Cloud 9 variety and the Imperial White variety,

(7) the display of white blossoms approximately one one week later thanthe Cloud 9 variety,

(8) good hardiness, and

(9) improved resistance to drought.

Asexual reproduction by budding at the nursery of the assignee beginningin 1975 confirmed that the distinctive appearance of the new varietycomes true and is established and transmitted through succeedingpropagations.

The new and distinctive variety of dogwood tree has been named theWorld's Fair variety in honor of the World Energy Fair to be held atKnoxville, Tenn. during 1982.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

The photographs show a typical specimen of the new variety whenapproximately three years of age while grown at McMinnville, Tenn. Thephotographs were obtained during April 1979 and depict the plant incolor as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in acolor illustration of this character.

FIG. 1 illustrates the overall appearance of the plant wherein thegeneral growth habit, stocky trunk, and strong stubby limbs ofrelatively large diameter are apparent.

FIG. 2 illustrates the attractive white blossoms of the variety whichtend often to be displayed in relatively closely disposed clusters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NEW VARIETY

The following description was made of plants growing at McMinnville,Tenn. Color terminology is to be accorded its ordinary dictionarysignificance. Unless otherwise stated the new variety hascharacteristics substantially identical to those of the native whiteFlowering Dogwood.

Growth habit: Upright with compact relatively uniform crown.

Trunk and branches: The trunk is stocky and tends to be of largercaliper than other dogwood varieties. The trunk of a one year old treeof the present variety measured 2 to 3 inches above the ground will tendto be approximately 7/16 inch in diameter while that of the native whiteFlowering Dogwood will tend to be approximately 5/16 inch. The limbs ofthe new variety possess a distinctive stubby appearance and are strongand of a relatively large diameter. The stocky branches are light greenin color when young and turn dark gray when mature.

Blossoms: The blossoms are highly attractive and commonly appearapproximately one week later than the Cloud 9 variety. A typical datefor first blooming is about Apr. 10th to 15th, but later if weather iscool and earlier if weather is warmer than usual. The white bracts formblossoms which tend to be borne in relatively closely disposed clustersof 3 to 5 or more blossoms unlike the individual blossoms commonlyformed on the native white Flowering Dogwood. However, some single orindividual blossoms will be observed on the present variety. Theblossoms commonly measure approximately 41/2 to 5 inches in diameterduring a normal growing year and tend to be slightly smaller than thoseof the Cloud 9 variety and the Imperial White variety. The blossoms tendto be formed in more abundance than those of the Cloud 9 variety and theImperial White variety.

Foliage: Typical leaves commonly measure approximately 31/2 inches inwidth and 51/2 inches in length. Such leaves tend to be smaller thanthose of the Cloud 9 variety and the Imperial White variety. The leafcolor is a slightly darker green than the Cloud 9 variety, and theleaves tend to be more glossy on the upper surface than the native whiteFlowering Dogwood, the Cloud 9 variety, and the Imperial White variety.

Silvical characteristics: The new variety survived the winter of1977-1978 when the temperature stayed below freezing for approximatelyforty days. The new variety also has withstood temperatures of -10° F.without damage. Improved drought resistance also has been demonstratedwhen compared with most other dogwood trees. Such drought resistance wasparticularly demonstrated during time period of May 29, 1980 to Nov. 10,1980, when the area experienced considerably less than usual amount ofprecipitation.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of white Flowering Dogwood tree,botanically known as Cornus florida, substantially as illustrated anddescribed, characterized particularly as to novelty by the uniquecombination of (1) a compact and upright growth habit, (2) stocky trunk,(3) strong limbs of relatively large diameter, (4) the display ofattractive white blossoms often in relatively closely disposed clusters,(5) the display of more white blossoms than the Cloud 9 variety and theImperial White variety, (6) the display of white blossoms which areslightly smaller than those of the Cloud 9 variety and the ImperialWhite variety, (7) the display of white blossoms approximately one weeklater than the Cloud 9 variety, (8) good hardiness, and (9) improvedresistance to drought.